A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Columbia College are mainly White with a smaller Black population. The school has high racial diversity. 45% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
55%
|
| Black |
15%
|
| Hispanic |
11%
|
| Asian |
3%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
5%
|
| International |
3%
|
| Race Unknown |
7%
|
There are 52% more female students than male students enrolled at Columbia College Chicago with a gender ratio of 60% women to 40% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Columbia College has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
40%
|
| Women |
60%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2,637
|
| Women |
4,009
|
Columbia College serves a low number of students outside of Illinois, with 57 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
57%
|
| Out of State |
40%
|
| Foreign |
3%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
47% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 10.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 8.7% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=144281 IPEDS survey data for Columbia College Chicago.